Sport car



WlC-KEY SPORT CAR Filed July 11, 1921 3 sheets-sheet 1 I fizyenior' I fiybrdfzwzki y WM Apr. 3, 1923.

C. J. ZWICKEY SPORT CAR Filed July 11, 1921 5 sheets-sheet 2 Q m a m Q Q Q N.

Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,197

I C. J. ZWICKEY SPORT CAR Filed July 11, 1921 5 sheets-sheet 5 (2 21M J Zwzkh by %4@ M izils 17 fi rney Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

CLIFFORD J. ZWICKEY, NORTH ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

srom can.

Application filed July 11,

cation.

This invention relates to sport vehicles, and more particularly to the class including automobiles provided with boat bodies, so that the device may be used as a conveyance either on land or water.

An object of the present invention is the .provision of a combination sport car and boat, having provision for readily swinging the wheels into out of use position during travel, from the drivers position, to bring the boat body into play.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sport car of the class described,

the general construction thereof being after the nature of the fuselage of an aeroplane, that is to say, a light but substantial wood or metal frame work, suiiiciently' stiff to support a motor and withstand the vibrations thereof, and suitably walled-in after the manner of ordinary canoes to render the body serviceable as a boat, the device being propelled jointly by an aeroplane propeller and power driven traction wheels.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out throughout the specification, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter specifically claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sport car.

Figure 2 is a plan view of same, parts having been removed to expose the mechanism within the car body.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary semi-diagrammatic perspective view of the car body, a part of the wheel raising mechanism and steering post being shown in dotted lines, and the operating cable system being shown in full lines.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front axle illustrating the manner of swinging same to raise the front wheels.

Figure 5 is fragmentary perspective view of the steering post,showing the mechanism whereby it is operatively connected with 1921. Serial No. 483,799.

the rudder to control it, and with the knuckles of the front wheels to control the latter.

Figure 6 is a fra mentary perspective view of the bottom 0 the body,-showing a part of the mechanism for raising the rear wheels, and the locking means for holding the same in raised position.

Figure 7 is an elevation partly in section of a part of the counter drive shaft and the clutch mechanism carried thereby.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the shifting mechanism for operating the clutches.

igure 9 is a side view of a part of the bottom of the car body, showing the riding spring supported thereon, and the locking mechanism for holding same in operative position.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of one of the band clutches.

Figure 11 is a front view of one of the expansible male clutch members.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of one of the clutch wedge dogs. l i

- Figure 13 is a perspective view of the clutch controlling lever. a

Figure 14 is an end view of the-trunnion journal box for the propeller shaft.

Figure 15 is a front view of-the propeller shaft support.

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional; view of the mufling box surrounding the axles where the latter penetrates the wall of-the car body.

1717 of Figure 2.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the lower end of the control lever for the wheel lifting mechanism.

Figure 17 is a sectional view on Figure 19 is a perspective view of the locking dog carried by said lever.

Figure 20 is a horizontal sectional view in line 20-20 of Figure 2.

Figure 21 is a sectional view on line 21-21 of Figure 5.

Figure 22 is a sectional view of Figure 6. I

Figure 23 is a sectional View 23-23 of Figure 6, and

Figure 24 is a perspective view. of the bend, in the forward axle. Y 'r' Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, 1 designates a car body formed like a boat consisting of a floor 2 spaced from the bottom 2', said floor and bottom being curved forwardly and upwardly, a stern wall 3,

an line 22-22 lying normally in a horizontal plane and bemeans of the journal boxes 7 on the floor 2,.

is the rear axle 8, and located forward of the seat, and in parallelism with the rear axle and likewise rotatably supported by means of the journal boxes 9, on the floor, is the front axle 10. The front axle is formed at its ends with forwardly extending bends 11,

ing bent downwardly at'their extremities to form vertical knuckle bearings 12, said bearings rotatably fitting in the journal hubs 13 so as to form a fulcrum pivot for the transversely disposed front wheel stub axles or.

steering knuckles 14. Each stub axle is formed at its outwardly extending part with a wheel bearing or spindle 15, adapted to rotatably carry the usual automobile wheel 15' (details thereof not shown) and with an inwardly extending lever arm having pivotal connection 16 with a flexible cable 17, so that when said cable is pulled the wheel on the spindle may be bodily revolved inv a horizontal plane to steer the car, said outwardly extending part also having a pivotal connection 18 with the cable 19.

successively arranged to the rear of the rear axle, are the motor 20, the radiator 21 for the motor, and the propeller 22, the radiator and propeller being located outside the rear wall 3, and supported on the extension 23 of the hollow bottom. Centrally, lengthwise, the front axle which is tubular, is divided into twosections by the gap 24, (Fig. 4) the adjacent ends being joined together by the forwardly extending horizontal plate 25., having hinge connection 26 with said adjacent ends so as to swing in a vertical plane, said plate being cut away adjacent the. gap to free the latter from obstruction.

Firmly secured to the axle, one for each of said sections, adjacent said gap, are the forwardly extending lever members 27 preferably of plate, and located in the plane of the return bends 11, so that each section maybe swung upwardly independent of the other. In addition to the journals 9, each section has additional bearing (Fig. 16) in the stuiling box 28, secured to the side wall and surrounding the axle, each stuffing box comprising a packing chamber 29 and a gland 30 threaded tov be screwed into said chamber and engaging the packing whereby the joint between the axle and the wall is rendered leak proof. The plate 25 is resil-- iently connected to the plates 27 by the coil springs 31, which latter are similar to the gap 24 andtelescopically into't spring 31' shown in Figure 9, said coil springs functioning as ordinary leaf springs for vehicles. Thus, when in operation, the

plate. It will 'be noted, that the plate 25, i

which is controlled substantially 1n the same manner as the late 87 of the front axle, is-

normally slight y elevated. from. the floor 2 (Fig. 9) to afford room for it to fall out of engagement with the shoulder 35 as shown by dotted lines. This disengagement is effected by the Wei ht of the wheels, which latter tend to sin when the car body is brought to rest on the surface of the water, whereby the bar 33 is rendered free to be slid in its guides out of the path of the plates 25. Thus, when the bar is withdrawn as by means of its cable 37 the plate 25 is free to be swung upwardly by means of the cable 38, which latter has secure fastening at 38. In order to, in part, counterbalance the weight of the wheels to facilitate raising them, the counter springs 39 are provided, sald springs extending from the plates 27 to the post 40, the latter being best shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.

As stated in the foregoing, the front axle 10istubular, (Fig. 24), thecables 17 and 19 The cables are continuous from one stub axle to the other and are parallel with and adjacent one another. Exte'ndin across the p he -o posite ends of the tubular axle S0 as to be s ldable longitudinally therein, is theshuttle sleeve 43, having .centrally lengthwise a series of regularly spaced annular ribs 44 spaced to a pitch adapted'to mesh with the teeth of the gear 45 mounted on the shaft 46, said shaft disposed coincident with the longitu dinal axis of the car body, and inclined rearwardly and journaled in the journal supports 47 and 48. As shown in Figure 21, the cable 19 extends loosely through the sleeve while the cable 17 extends through said sleeve but is firmly secured therein by means of the set screw 49, so that when the sleeve is reciprocated by means of the gear 45 the stub axle 14 will be rotated upon the knuckle bearing 12, whereby the car is steered.

As indicated in Figure 5, the floor 2 of the car body is sunken to accommodate the gear of the car body. The steering column is formed of a tubular section 53 havingand the journal supports 47 and 48. Journaled in the top of the column 50 and inclined rearwardly to a position adjacent the seat 6 is the steering column 51, said column having additional journal supports 52 (Fig. 3) depending from the framework mounted thereon a sheave wheel 54 and a sprocket wheel 55, said sprocket wheel having operative chain connection 56' with the sprocket wheel 57" rigidly mounted on. the shaft 46. The tubular section 53 of the steering column is formed to telescopically receive a squared shank 56, which-in turn carries the hand wheel 57 at its upper extremity. Thus, by turning the hand wheel the sleeve 43 may be reciprocated to steer the car. Rotating with the tubular section 53 and pivoted thereon so as to swing outwardly therefrom is the locking dog 57' adapted to engage the notch 58, of the squared shank 56,. whereby the telescopic movement of said squared section may be checked. Having swivel connection 59 in the inner end of the squared shank 56 and extending downwardly through the hollow of the tubular section 53 is the flexible cable 60, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, 61 designates the driving shaft in con- 7 nection with the motor, said shaft carrying the spur gear 62 meshing with the gear 63, which in turn meshes with the gear 64, the lattermeshing with the gear 65 mounted directly on the propeller shaft 66. Said propeller shaft being journaled in the journal box 67, said journal box being sup-ported on the trunnion-s 68 (Fig. 14). At its outer end the shaft carries the propeller 22 having its discharge side to the rear. Surrounding the propeller is the guard frame 69 suitably enclosed with wire screening as shown. The guard frame is suitably braced by means of the tie rods 70 to the car body, and is formed at its top with the journal 71 wherein is swingingly supported the outstanding rudder 73, said rudder having journal support 72 in the body of the car. At its lower extremity, the rudder is formed with laterally extending opposite arms 74. each arm having pivotal connection respectively with the cables 75 and 76. whereby when said cables are pulled the rudder will be caused to swing laterally.

Rigidly mounted on the motor shaft 61. is the miter gear 77 meshing with the gear 78, the latter rigidly mounted on the vertical shaft 7 9, said shaft having journal support in the bracket 80 and the car body frame.

At its lower extremity the shaft rigidly carries the bevel gear '81, in mesh with the gear 82. the latter rigidly mounted on the horizontal longitudinally disposed jack shaft 83, said shaft carrying rigidly, at its forward end, the bevel gear 84.

The rear axle 8 is formed with rearwardiy extending bends 85, the transverse portion thereof being'tubular and cut away midway between its ends to form two sections leaving a space for the insertion of the clutch mechanism 86. Each section has, in addition to journals 7, further journal support in the stuffing box 28, similar to the forwardaxle 10. Further, each axle section is provided with plates 87 and 88, corresponding in effect to plates 25 and 27 of the axle 10, and being similarly connected by the riding spring 31, and provided with a counter spring 39 attached to a post 40. As, however, the axle sections are more Widely separated than those of axle 10, each pair of plates is provided respectively with a lifting cable 89 and 90, as distinguished from the single cable 38 provided for'lifting the front wheels. Likewise, each plate 87 is provided with individual locking mechanism 32 similar in every respect to that already described in the foregoing in connection with axle 10, these mechanisms having, respectively, cable connections 37 and 37". Extending through the interior of each axle section is the drive shaft 91, the inner terminals thereof having adjacent journal supports 92, and the outer ends thereof extending through and beyond the axle section (Fig. 20) and having sprocket gear 93 thereat. Extending outwardly from the terminals of each of the bends, is a stubshaft 94 (Fig. 17) disposed parallel with the axles, and rotatably carrying a rear traction wheel 95, said wheel having a sprocket 96 having chain connection 97 with the sprocket 93. Mounted loosely adjacent the journal supports 92, one on each of the shafts 91, and oppositely disposed thereon are the female cone clutch members 97, (Fig. 7), adapted to receive the male clutch member 98 rigidly mounted on the shaft. The male member of the clutches comprises a split ring 99, having web connection 100 with the hub, said connection being opposite the split 101, which latter is slightly tapered to receive the wedge 102 of the clutch sleeve 103, said sleeve being slidably mounted on the shaft 91. The sleeve is formed with an annular groove 104 adapted to receive the ring 105 of one of the arms 106, so that the sleeve may rotate in the bore of the ring. The arms 106' extend forwardly and are firmly connected to the shifting shaft 107, said shaft being slidable in the guides 108 secured to the floor 2. Thus, when the shaft is shifted in one direction to force one of the wedges into its respective clutch member to thereby expand it into frictional connection with the female member, the opposite wedge will thereby be withdrawn from the split of its clutch member. Ob-

viously, either clutch may thus be arbitrarily thrown into operation, or, by holding the shifting shaft insuch position, as to disengage both wedges, be held in neutral position.

Secured on the shaft 91, one for each axle section, are the ordinary band brakes 109, (Fig. 10) said brakes being formed with the usual split strap band 110, having fulcrumed lever 111 pivoted on one end thereof and a tie bolt 112 connecting the opposite end of said band with said lever, whereby when said lever is pulled as by means of the cable 113, the strap band may be frictionally clamped to the friction disk 114 firmly secured to the shaft. A relatively stifi coil spring 115 connects the band with the floor 2 of the car to afford a resilient connection between the band and the car body. bands constantly in inoperative position. The floor 2 as shown in Figure 7 has suitable pits 116, to accommodate the clutches,

and 117 to accommodate the brakes.

Having ball and socket connection 118 with the wall 4 of the car body and extending transversely across the latter forward and adjacent the hand wheel 57, is the clutch and locking mechanism controlling lever 119, said lever being provided with an upstanding loop 120, through which passes the cable 121 said cable having secured thereon one on either side of said loop, the stopping disks 122, so that when said lever is moved in a horizontal plane the cable will be pulled in either direction as the case may be. Extending horizontally directly beneath the lever 119 as at 123 and immediately adj acent thereto so as to be flexed downwardly when said lever is moved in a vertical plane is the cable 37. Pivotally mounted by means of the pivot 124 in elevated position relative to the floor 2, and supported on the latter by means of the standard 125, is the wheel lifting foot lever 126, the pivot 124 constituting a fulcrum therefor and the upper end of said lever having connection with the cable 38. At its lower end the vlever is provided (Fig. 18) with a trans-- versely extendin pin 127 whereon is rotatably supporte the latch dog 128 having and upwardly extending release lever 129 and a'stop lug 130, said stop lug adapted to engage the edge of the lever 126 at 131 to restrict the upward movement of said dog,

whereby it is held in the position shown in Fig. 4. A coil spring 132 holds the dog under stress in said position.

The cable system which is operated from the steering post and the levers 126 and 119, is best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings wherein, to render the various cables traceable from their source of operation to the mechanism which is designed to operate the cables, are diagrammatically illustrated in A separate spring 115 keeps the' perspective, all changes of direction in the cables such as return bends and the like, being taken care of by suitable rollers generally indicated in the drawings by spools such as indicated by 133 all of the spools being shown of an equal size to keep the drawings clear, it being understood that rollers of various sizes and'shapes may be substituted.

The rollers will be referred to in numbers designated by R R etc., so as to dlStlIh guish from the numbers used throughout the specification. The cable 60 connected with the squared shank 56 of the steering column extends to R. -R --R where it is joined to the cables 113, one of said cables extending to R to brake and the other extending to R to brake.

Obviously, when the hand wheel is pulled outwardly the lever 111 of the brakes will be operated to set the latter, by means of spring'pressed dog 57 which will engage the notch 58 to hold the brakes set. To release the brakes, the finger piece of the dog is provided. For the purpose ofoperating the rudder 73, the cables 75 and 76 (Figs. 3 and 5) are provided. These cables are fastened at 134, to the periphery of the sheave wheel 54, the cable 76 extending from the sheave to RR R -RR to rudder arm, and the cable 75 from the op osite' rudder arm to R R --R R to sheave. It will be noted that the cables 75 and 76 are crossed between the sheave and R-- and R thereby causing the rudder to sWi-n in the same direction in which the hand w eel is turned, so thatthe rudder will assist in Ill nism on one side of the car body and the cable 37 extending to the locking mechanism on the opposite side of the car body. The cable 37 passes under the lever 119 immediately adjacent to its underside as shown in. Figure 13 in the drawings, so that when said lever is moved downwardly upon its pivot 118 it will flex the cable 37 .as shown in dotted lines whereby said cable will be pulled at its point of attachment with the forward locking mechanism and also the cable 37 and 37 attached to the rear looking mechanism. For the purpose of sliding the shifting shaft 107 and thereby operate the clutches, the cable 121 is provlded, this cable as hereinbefore explained is provided with stop disks 122 so that when the lever 119 is reciprocated horizontally the cable may be pulled back and forth as desired. The cable 121 extends from the lever 119 to R' to R to R, to shaft 107, to R, to R to R- to R to lever 119. Thus, by moving the lever in a horizontal plane the clutches may be controlled and by moving said lever vertically the locking mechanisms may be controlled. As shown by the arrows in Fig. 3, of the drawings the gear 82 viewed from the front of the car runs clockwise so that the rear righthand wheel facing the car will run in reverse direction, and the left hand wheel will run forward when the respective clutches are operated.

For the purpose of raising the wheels the cables 3889 and 90 are provided. The cable 38 extends from the plate 25 of the front axle to the foot lever 126, while the cable 89 extends from the plate 88 adjacent the wall 5 of the car body to "R R R to foot lever 126 and the cable 90, from the plate 25 adjacent the wall 4, to R R -R to foot lever. After entering the water, the driver engages the dog 128, with his foot (Fig. 4:) to bring it into locking engagement with the downturned hook 135 secured to the floor 2 as shown in dotted lines. To release the wheels,

the release lever 129 is forced forward,-

whereby the hook and dog are disengaged.

In Figure 1 of the drawings A designates the water, it being noted that the propeller is located above same. To start the motor the propeller may be turned and to stop same the usual mechanism employed in automobiles is utilized but not shown in the drawings. The Wheels may be said to be offset relative to the tubular parts of the axles, each axle section constituting a U- shaped fulcrumed lever, having a wheel at one terminal and attached to the spring 31 at the other.

I claim:

1. A sport car of the class described, comprising a body formed to float, means including a power unit for propelling said body, su porting wheels for supporting said body on and pivotally mounted to be swingable bodily upward when the body is afloat to a position above the water line, and to swing bodily downward by gravlty to a predetermined de ee when the body is afloat, releasable ocking means including releasing means therefor, extending into engagement with a art of the pivotal mounting of said whee s to check upward movement of the latter and render said releasing means inoperable, said releasing means being rendered operable by the downward swinging movement of said wheels.

2. A car for use on land and water, comprising a body constructed to float, a propeller above the water line, a rudder to the rear of the propeller, a power unit operatively connected with the propeller, a front and a rear rotatably mounted axle extending transversely of the car body, the outer ends of said axles carrying wheels and being offset laterally, the front axle ofi'set in a for ward direction and the rear axle in a rearward direction, the offset ends of the front axle being pivoted to constitute fulcrumed steerin knuckles, releasable locking means for hol ing the axles against rotation, means for releasing said locking means, means for simultaneously rotating said axles to raise the Wheels, and steering mechanism operatively connected with said rudder and steering knuckles and extending to and including a hand wheel at the drivers position, said mechanism including flexible connections extendlng from said knuckles approximately through the axis of rotation of the axle.

3. In a car for use on land and water the combination with a body capable of floating and means for propelling same when it is afloat, said means including a propeller and a power unit, of a front and rear axle each having two wheels for supporting the body, said axles being rotatably mounted transversely of the body,-and having their wheels ofiset so that the latter will swing bodily upward when the axles are rotated, means for rotating the axles and holding same in upswung position, means for steering the front wheels, and clutch mechanism operatively connected with said power unit and the rear wheels, said mechanism including oppositely revoluble clutches, one for each Wheel and means for arbitrarily rendering operative either of said clutches.

4. A vehicle of the class described, comprising a body capable of floating and means for propelling same,said means including a propeller above the waterline, of a front and rear axle each carrying two supporting wheels one on each outer end thereof, for supporting said body, each of said axles being formed of two simultaneously rotatable sections, each section constituting a ,fulcrumed U-shaped lever, the axis of rotation of the axle being coincident with the fulcrum thereof, an arm, one for each fulcrumed lever, pivoted in the fulcrum thereof, and extending spacedly in vertical alinemcnt under the inner portion of the fulcrumcd lever, a resilient connection between said arm and said inner portion, means for simultaneously rotating all of said sections to raise the wheels, releasable holding means engaging with said arm to hold it in fixed relation to said body, and means for releasing said holding means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLIFFORD J. Z WICKEY. 

